hey! raleigh here!! up in wake forest is actually a nice fish store: aquarium outfitters. i've also run into one on the way down to the beach called fish fish fish, in plymouth. its a hike but a ginormous store, so much beautiful marine stuff!!!

i wouldn't waste a whole lot of time in chain stores. the products are expensive, and only petco carries the semi-decent bettas, and otherwise they're just boring.